“Sometimes things just click into place and we just felt very secure in that game and it felt very much like the Manchester United of old, from a couple of years ago.

“I think we’d got into a position this season, a bit like we did at the start of last season, where we were just playing open, expansive football and expecting to score three or four goals and not really concentrating as we should on our defending.”

United’s winning run has included the prized scalps of rivals Chelsea and Arsenal and Ferdinand claims they have become more resolute.

The centre-half says the challenge for him and his United team-mates is to maintain this impressive form.

“Up until the game against Newcastle, we’d been a bit open and playing in that way of ‘We attack, [then] you attack’,” he said.

“This league is unforgiving in that sense. If you’re not on your game in all areas you’ll get punished.

“But I think the performance against Newcastle signalled a bit of a change in mentality from us and hopefully that’s a taste of things to come for the rest of the season.

“If we can maintain that kind of form I believe we’ve got a really good chance of being successful this season.”

“It was brilliant for Robin to get a hat-trick on the day against Southampton, but, again, you just don’t want to put yourself in those situations where you have to come back and pull victories from the jaws of defeat.

“I’m sure the manager’s heart is beating much quicker than normal after games like that!”